Chapter 1 1. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family? That Maycomb is a little town and that Atticus Finch is either related to almost everyone in the town through blood or marriage. He lives with his two kids Scout and Jem and there maid/cook. His wife had died a few years ago. 2. What do you learn about Dill's character? That he is a very curious and adventurous little boy. He isn't scared of much and wants to see what Boo looks like.
3. What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley? He got involved with a bad crowd and instead of getting sent away with the rest when the got arrested he was kept in his house. He then spent s little time in the local county basement when he stabbed his father. He is now a ghost in his own house. 4. Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill? It fascinates them because it's so forbidden.
5. What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel? The narrative voice is a little girl named Scout.
Chapter 2 1. Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school? Because she always watches the kids walk to school and is excited for it to finally be her. She is very eager to learn. 2. Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior typical of an older child? Because he doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of his friends and yes this is very typical of an older child. 3. What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities, which would make her good or not so good at her job? I think she has qualities that make her both a good and not good teacher. She would make a good teacher because of her new techniques of teaching, which are more hands on learning like we do today. She makes not so good of a teacher because she seems very inpatient and doesn't want any of the children to become too smart for their grade like Scout.
Chapter 3 1. Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household? She is the Finchs maid/cook but she is also the mother role model of the household and is treated like family and an equal. 2. What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life? He is very poor. His behavior during lunch when he covered everything in molasses and ate as fast as he could suggests that he doesn't get that much food at home and thinks he's going to take advantage of this and eat as much as he can because he doesn't know where his next meal is coming from. 3. What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter? Atticus treats Walter like he is a grown man and equal to him because his knowledge level is that of a grown man farmer. 4. Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think this is? Yes I think she learns that she can't keep judging people as harshly as she does because she doesn't know what their lives are like and needs to be more polite to guests. 5. Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? (In the last chapter of the novel, Scout repeats this, but she changes “skin” to “shoes” - this is probably not a mistake: Harper Lee suggests that Scout cannot clearly recall exactly what Atticus said and when, but the reader can check this!) It means that you can't judge someone until you've lived his or her life. I do think this is a hard thing for Scout to learn because she is still so young. 6. What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells? That they are the lowest people in the town and that they are allowed to do many things that are illegal to everyone else because Mr. Ewell is an alcoholic and drinks away all of the well fare money and they have to let him do things like hunt out of season so that the children can eat because they have no mother. Chapter 4
1. What does Scout think of current fashions in education? She thinks that school is extremely pointless and if it's going to be this boring for the next 12 years she is not going to be taking part.
2. What superstitions do the children have in connection with the Radley house? Hot steams, which are dead spirits or ghost like things and if you walk through one you will be stuck between heaven and hell when you die.
3. Why do the children make Boo's story into a game? Because they think its fun. 4. What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radleys' home? They re and act Boo reading his magazine and then freaking out and stabbing his father. No part of them knows it's not very accurate they just use the gossip that they hear in the town.
5. What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? Boo Radley. Chapter 5
1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson? How typical is she of Maycomb's women? What do the children think of her? Miss Maudie Atkinson is a widow hat loves to garden she seems a little bit off of the typical Maycomb women because she's being so friendly to the children. The children like her very much because she treats them almost as equals, makes them food all the time and spend time with Scout. 2. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes? She tells Scout about how much that whole house hold cares about making sure they have a good after life and go to heaven that they think she's going to hell because she spends too much time outside withe her flowers. That is why he stays inside all of the time. 3. Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones ” (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies? Because he wanted everyone to think highly of him and wanted them to think that he knew more then everyone else. 4. What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why? He says that it is disrespectful and that they don't know what really happens inside and that they sould never make fun of someone like that. Yes, I do agree with him. Chapter 6
1. Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radleys' windows? Because Atticus told them to stop bothering him and she doesn't want to get into trouble. She also thinks that they will get killed.
2. What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired? He doesn't know who is was but if they come again he will shoot them this time. 3. Why does Dill's explanation of Jem's state of dress almost land him in trouble? Because poker is a sin and thats looked on as a very bad thing as well. Chapter 7
1. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this? Jem tells Scout that when he went back to go get his breeches that instead of them being tangle and in a heap where he left them they were nicely folded all sewn up like they were waiting for them.
2. Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is? I think that Jem is beginning to understand that Boo radley isn't as bad and mean as everyone makes him out to be. 3. Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer. I don't think he so much as fears them just doesn't want to go into too much question about where there coming from. 4. When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so? When they go to leave the letter their prevented because someone had filled the hole with cement. Mr. Radley was the one who filled it. His reason was that the tree was dying and if you filled the holes up with cement it saved it, but when Jem asked Atticus if the tree was dying he said no and that the tree was as healthy as he was. I think the real reason was that he didn't want Boo making things for the kids because if he started liking them making them things might no be enough he may want to go and meet them and Mr. Radley wanted Boo to stay in the house away from the kids. Chapter 8
1. Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her? Scout asks Atticus because she wants to know if Atticus had seen Boo to see if he was even still alive and if so what he looked like. All Atticus says to this is "No, i did not". 2. What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it? The "near libel" that Jem puts in the front yard is the snowman. Atticus is impressed but say that they need to put a disguise on it so it didn't resemble any of the neighbors. Miss Maudie jokingly yells at Jem to bring back her hat and clippers but she is also pleased by it. 3. Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair? He saves it because he knows that it is one of her most loved things.
4. When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize? He realizes that he has no idea how it got there either. He then realizes that it was Boo Radley and is a little upset that he didn't get to see him, if only he had turned around. 5. Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire ” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might now do as his father says? I think Jem is finally starting to realize that Boo deserves his respect as much as anyone else and is figuring out more and more about Boo and that he actually seems like and extremely caring person. Chapter 9
1. How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?Atticus feels that he should work hard to help Tom Robinson because Calpurnia says that she knows his family and that they are clean living folk and she goes to church with him. It was not usual for white lawyers to do their best for black clients at that time because African Americans were not considered equal at this time. 2. Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas? What are these feelings and why? They do not like spending time with their anoying cousin, Francis and Aunt Alexandra, but they like Uncle Jack and the Christmas tree. Uncle Jack is really funny and they say he is the best doctor because he'll make them laugh while they're in pain so they don't feel anything. 3. Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it?It means shes growing up and she is not who she used to be because she is cussing a lot more now and acts more like her father then her mother. 4. When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?She doesn't understand girls much as she has never had one. She is also very rude to Scout on how she dresses, she says Scout should be wearing dresses and breeches not pants. 5. Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?Years later Scout realizes that Atticus was letting her overhear their conversation because he wanted her to hear it. Scout learns from Uncle Jack and Atticus's conversation that she will have to endure some ugly things really soon and how Atticus knows Jem will be fine, but he doesn’t know how well Scout will handle it. 6. Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story. It means that this is Atticus's way of telling scout stuff without having to say it to her face. It is important to the story because Atticus will probably say something very serious and scout will be listening in on Atticus's conversation with someone.
Chapter 10 1. Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter?Yes, I think that this is her veiw of Atticus as she tells the story when she was younger. At the end of the chapter she does not still think this because Miss Maudie tells Scout about his old days when peopl called him "One Shot".
2. In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this?Because Mockingbirds sing very nice tunes, but they were aloud to shoot Bluebirds.
3. Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?Becuase he says its a one shot job and he knows he cannot shoot that, but he knows Atticus can because he is very well skilled with guns.
4. Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem. What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from saying it?He did not want his children to know he is a very good shot and marksman.
5. Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own? Jem does not want to tell the kids at school because since Atticus did not want his own children to know Jem thinks it would be disrespectful. But Scout just wants to prove to the other kids that their dad can do something, because she gets made fun of because her dad is defending an African American. I agree with Jem, because if Atticus didnt tell them, then he probably didnt want them to know. Chapter 11
1. How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts? Atticus tells Jem to ignore Mrs.Dubose and everything she says.He also says for Jem to hold his head up high and act like a gentleman. 2. What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children's mother? How does Jem feel about this? Mrs.Dubose told the children that their father should have re-married after her mothers death, Jem was not happy and was hurt that she even mentioned his mother. 3. What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”? Mrs.Dubose suggests that Jem re-plants the flowers he killed, and that he read to her almost everyday for an hour. I think that it is fair. 4. Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him? He does not think much of the insults, he agrees that he is because Atticus likes alot of people and to him it doesnt matter what skin colour you are. 5. Why, in Atticus's view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”? Atticus calls Mrs.Dubose "a great lady" because he thinks she has a lot of courage. At the end of the chapter we find out that Mrs.Dubose is addicted to painkillers and that she wanted to die free,without being addicted. 6. Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right? Atticus ment that because she was addicted to painkillers, it took her inner strength to quit , and the fact that she even wanted to quit was courageous. Atticus was trying to tell the children that she had more courage by wanting to quit, than any person with a gun could have. 7. Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here. I think that Harper Lee chose the end the first part of the book here because the first part was more of an introduction to the characters of the story. In the second half the story might go into more detail and the main plot will appear more clear. Chapter 12
1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. At first Jem and Scout were kind of intimidated by a church member, but once things got going they liked it and thought it was a good experience. 2. What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live? Scout learns that they are more of a community and that one someone needs help, they help each other. 3. What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education? Scout learns that Calpurnia tought Zeebo to read, and that she taught him from a single book. 4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church. Calpurnia speaks differently because in the Finch house she is more proper because it is her job . At the church she preaks more like the others because she is used to talking that way around them and she just kind of caught on to the way they talk.
Chapter 13
1. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like? Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the family because since Atticus is away she feals the need to try and help out. When she see's how much of a "tomboy" Scout is she tries to lead her in the direction of a typical lady. She seems kind of pushy and bossy twords everyone. 2. Read the first two things Aunt Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch home: "Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia" and "Jean Louise, stop scratching your head". Are these typical of her or not? As you get to know Aunt Alexandra better it seams like something she would do. 3. Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are? She thinks that because Scout is more of a tomboy that she is not as smart as the other typical girls. I think that she is wrong becuse Scout is very smart and able to do things many kids her age can not. 4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life? Aunt Alexander gets involved by have company over and making friends with them.
5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think? Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be more of a girl and more social, Atticus tries to tell the children about Aunt Alexanda's oppinion but he dissagre's and tells them to forget it. I think that Atticus was right to not tell kids.
Chapter 14
1. Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout. Atticus eplains it in a very mature way, with big words and very vaugly but still so Scout can understand. 2. Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion? Alexandra think she should dismiss Calpurnia because now that she is there she dosnt feal like Calpurnia needs to be there , and that she is teaching them wrong. Atticus tells her that Calpurnia is part of the family, and that the children love her. 3. Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill? Scout is pleased when they fight because they still fight an even fight. It probably makes her feel better, and think that Jem might still be a kid to. When Jem tells Atticus about Dill, she gets upset and realizes that maybe Jem really is growing up. 4. What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away? We learn that Dills new family didnt pay attention to him very much and that after awhile he was chained up in the basement, and barley fed. He escaped and found his way back to Maycomb.
Chapter 15 1. What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children? For the first time, Scout and Jem witness the hatred of the mob and the horrors of racism, and see their Father in a vulnerable position. 2. What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment “The Ku Klux's gone. It'll never come back." They are a group of people who are against colored people because they don’t think that they deserve to live. I think it is to help Tom Robinson to sleep better.
3. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why? Jem stays right where is was and doesnt leave, because he feels that Atticus is in danger. 4. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life? The fact that the children weren’t leaving and they didn’t wan to do what they had planned in front of the children. 5. Comment on the way Scout affects events without realizing it at the time. Talking about entailments to Walter Cunningham and everyone in the aggregation was looking at her with their mouths open. Scout made Walter stand in Atticus's shoes for a moment.
Chapter 16
1. What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father? Scout had figured out that there was a subtle change directed towards Aunt Alexandra. There was a fair starchiness in is voice when he said, "Anything fit to say at the table's fit to say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family." He get deffends Calpurnia and isn't afraid to be a little rude to Aunt Alexandra to get his point across.
2. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond? Dolphus Raymond is married to a black women and his children are all mixed chillun. He owns all of one side of the river bank.
3. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do? Reverend Sykes brings them up to the colored balcony to see the trial. Yes I think he is right to. I think the children are all old enough to watch and it is a huge learning experience. 4. Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not? Judge Taylor does not take his job completely seriously, he sometimes propped his feet up on his desk but he is always paying atention. Chapter 17
1. What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his [[javascript: {alert(' Asking questions of a witness who has given evidence for the other side ')}|cross-examination]] of Sheriff Tate? Atticus shows that Tate sted that most of her bruising was on the right side of her body which means it would have most likely been a left handed person that beat her and we later find out that Tom is unable to use his left arm. 2. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter? There are 7 children, their relief check was far from enough to feed the family, and there was a strong suspicion that Mr. Ewell drank it up anyway. He sometimes went off in the swamp for days and came home sick, they made shoes out of strips of old tires when it was cold enough for shoes. The family hauled its buckets of water from a spring that ran out at one end of the dump. The younger children suffered from chronic ground-itch. 3. What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence? We learn that Mr. Ewell was left handed and the black eye was on Mayella"s right eye, so Mr. Ewell could have beat her up, also we learned that Mr. Ewell does not know what the word ambidextrous means. 4. Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this? Atticus has Mr. Bob Ewell write out his name to see what hand he uses, the jury sees that Mr. Ewell is left handed.
Chapter 18
1. Is Mayella like her father or different from him? In what ways? I think they are different. I think Mayella is lying to everyone and trying to get blame Tom Robinson becasue she is scared of her father, but deep down its killing her to have to do it and I think her father is a drunk who beats his children and thinks he can get away with blaming it on Tom because of his color.
2. What might be the reason for Mayella's crying in the court? I think Mayella is crying because she is just so overwhelmed with emotions. She knows what she is doing is bad but she is just so scared of her father she doesn't think she has any choice. 3. How does Mayella react to Atticus's politeness? Is she used to people being polite? Mayella thinks that Atticus is making fun of her because she has never had people being polite to her shes just used to being treated like trash by her father. 4. How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in the eyes of the jury? I dont think that Mr. Gilmer really proved that Tom was guilty he just played up the fact that Tom was black and when Tom said that he had felt sorry for Mayella that pretty much did it for everyone in the court house. Chapter 19
1. What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place? Tom visited the Ewell's house because Mayella had asked him to come inside to help her with something. 2. Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”? Scout thinks that Mayella must be the loneliest person in the world because she spent a year saving money to send her brothers and sister out of the house just so she could spend a few hours with Tom. 3. In your own words explain Mayella's relationship with her father. Mayellas relationship with her father would be a terrible one. She stays away from him as much as she can and, she says that he is tolerable, except when he is drinking. 4. How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion? Dill starts to cry when he hears Mr. Gilmer talking to Tom Robinson so rudely. Because it isn't right for anyone to treat a person badly because of their skin colour.
Chapter 20
1. Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right? No she isn't right because Dolphus Raymond is not an evil man, he is a good guy, but it is just everyone says he is bad because he always has alcohol in his hand and because he is married to a black women. 2. In most states of the USA people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag? Raymond hides Coca-Cola in a bag but pretends that it is alcohol because he feels like he needs something to blame for the way he acts.
3. What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong? Explain, in your own words, Atticus's views on people's being equal. Mayella has kissed a full grown coloured man, and that is considered an offence. Atticus finds in unfair that it is an offence for a white women and a black man together but it is only looked on poorly but nothing is ever done when a black women and a white man are together.
Chapter 21
1. What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Jem expects the verdict to be innocent and Atticus thinks that it should be innocent as well but knows the people of Maycomb better then Jem does and knows that their not going to be able to get past the color of his skin and that it is going to be guilty. 2. What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not? Because they were actually thinking about giving Tom Robinson a chance. I found the verdict quite predictable.
3. As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these and how do they remind us of the novel's central themes? Scout remembers how Atticus shot the sick dog, it made her think that Atticus is aiming with an empty gun. It meens that she knew he wasnt going to win, but he still tried his best.
Chapter 22
1. Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem's right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's reasons for this. (Look at the speech beginning, “This is their home, sister”.) "We've made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it... It's just as much Maycomb County as missionary teas." Atticus says this because Jem is growing up and has a right to learn and know about how Maycomb life really is. 2. Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view? Miss Maudie tells Jem this, saying that Atticus did a job no one else could have, and has actually changed many peoples' minds. Atticus wasn't able to save Tom Robinson but he has started to make people start thinking and hopefully start the change with racism and social classes. 3. Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he would keep this ambition for long? Because he likes to laugh at people, but them Jem tells him that it is usually the crowd who is laughing at the clown. No i dont think he'll keep this ambition because he likes to change his mind and tell stories all the time. 4. This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained the same (in the USA and the UK) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view? Yes, attitudes to racism have changed for the better forsure. People of all colours are looked at as equals. 5. Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a real one, and how might he try to “get” Atticus? Because Atticus actually put up a fight in the court room and is really trying his best to win this case not just put in a half ass job like most other lawyers would have. I think his threat might be a real one but I dont think that he will try to kill Atticus, but possibly get back at him in an other way.
Chapter 23
1. What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated or done something else? I feel that Atticus reacted perfectly because all Bob Ewell was trying to do was get a reaction out of him and get him mad. 2. What is “circumstantial evidence”? What has it got to do with Tom's conviction? Circumstantial evidence is evidence that is based only if another circumstance is correct, usually which isn't enough or valid proof. Tom's conviction was based on Heck Tate's circumstantial proof, which was based on what Bob Ewell said. 3. What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom? Atticus tells Scout that because they look so long it meant that not everyone in the jury was against Tom and people were really starting to think for themselves and look at the facts not just the color of their skin.
4. Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Are class-divisions good or bad for societies? No I deffinitly do not think class divisions are good for society and I do not think people should just mix with other people in the same social class. All social classes do is make people feel bad about themselves and let the rich show off their uneccessary wealth. 5. At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your opinion? Jems new theory for why Boo hasn't left his house in so long is because he doesn't want to deal with the people of Maycomb and how mean and judging they are. I think this is very likely because when Boo does finally come out he seems like a very nice young man but also ver very shy and doesn't like to deal with people.
Chapter 24 1. Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa)? Give reasons for your answer. I do not think that they are being sincere when they talk about the Mrunas, they just have nothing else to talk about.
2. Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says she is wearing her “britches” under her dress. Everyone in the room laughed AT Scout when she says shes wearing her britches under her dress. All the ladies laugh exept Miss Maudie because she knows Scout isn't trying to be funny and probably feels a little bad for her.
3. What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter? I think that the ladies of Maycomb this way to highly of themselves. All they do is jude and gossip about other people.
4. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted escape. Do you think agree with Atticus?How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her? Tom om had gotten shot down by the police when he tried to escape from jail. Atticus's explanation was that he didn't care about the white men anymore. Aunt Alexander seems different because she's actually taking a liking to Tom and is sad when she hears that she has died.
Chapter 25
1. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death? Maycomb is very curious about Toms death. With in a few days the whole town knows about it. 2. Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”? The town thinks that is typical for a black person mentally have no plan and that it is typical for a black personto "cut and run". 3. Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men's hearts”. In what way are hearts like courts?
Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's ("One down and about two more to go")? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do? Scout wonders why everyone knew that Tom was telling the truth but didn't defend his side. The heart can relate to courts because the hearts feelings can change just like the courts. Scout doesn't want to tell Atticus about the comment because she feels that it will affect Atticus and make him furious. I don't think it was a wise thing to do because she shouldn't keep anything like that from her dad.
Chapter 26 1. In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don't believe in persecuting anyone”. What seems odd to the reader about this claim?It is odd because the (American people) seem to persecute lots of people especially black people just because their skin. 2. Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates' disapproval of Hitler? Scout is confused why his teacher hates Hitler so much. She is bugged about how come people have to persecute people and have mean thoughts even though you don't know them 3. Why does Scout's question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question (“How can you hate Hitler an’ then turn around an be ugly about folks right at home?" Jem was so upset because he didn't want Scout to mention the courthouse again. And he didn't answer her question. I think it would be a very complicated to answer that question because it is so profound and meaningful.
Chapter 27 1. What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra? The first thing was that Bob acquired and lost his job in a matter of days. The second thing was that Judge Taylor heard Bob raiding around his house. The third thing was that Bob would follow Helen everywhere and "chuckle" behind her back. 2. Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his enemies, and why? Bob Ewell bears a grudge on Link Deas because he hired Helen, Tom's wife to work for him. Link's plan was for him to protect Helen from Bob treating her disrespectfully. 3. What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown ups to have an organized event? The point in having the Halloween pageant was to show the different agricultural products of Maycomb. The practical joke that happens the year before was that the kids snuck into Tutti and Frutti's house and moved all their furniture into their cellar.
Chapter 28
1. Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel. At the starting of this chapter they think back to the items that were left in the tree for them and start talking about Boo Radley again. 2. Why does Jem say that Boo Radley must not be at home? What is ironic about this? (Is it true? Does he really mean it? Why might it be important for him and Scout that Boo should not be at home?) Jem says that Boo Radley isn't home because he didn't hear anything coming from the house. This is ironic because i think they were right he wasn't at home he was out watching and about to save them. 3. Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way? This affects her understanding because with the costume on she can't hear or see very well. 4. Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Because Atticus knows people very well and knows that working men like the man in the corner feel more comportable standing in a corner out of the way.
Chapter 29
1. What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume? Bob Ewell tried to stab Scout but because her costume was so thick the shiny clean line was the line the knife made. 2. What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell's attack? Atticus says that he is a coward and doesn't have the guts to go after Atticus himself so he went after his children who are an easier target. 3. What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack? Tate thinks that Mr. Ewell was the kind of man you would shoot before you say "hidy" to them but they aren't even worth the shot. 4. Do you think the sheriff's explanation or Atticus's is the more likely to be true? I think that the Sheriff's explanation is more likely cause i can't see Jem, defending Scout or not, being a ble to stab a full grown man.
Chapter 30
1. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death? Atticus thinks that Jem was the one who stabbed Bob. 2. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true? Because where he was stabbed it would make sense that he fell back onto his knife. Its only partly tue cause someone could have easily come behind him a stabbed him as well. 3. Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo the publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer. Yes i think he is right to spare Boo of that. Boo saved the children's lives why would they go and do the one thing that would probably kill him in the end. 4. How does the writer handle the appearance, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley? The writer tells us why Boo is so pale. He shows us that Boo looks and speaks like a normal person. Scout also realizes that he's not scary and is actually really nice.
Chapter 31
1. How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel? In the beginning of the novel it tells us how Jem broke his elbow when he was thirteen and in the last chapter it shows us how his
arm was broken. 2. Comment on the way the writer summarizes earlier events to show their significance. At the end of the book the writer puts Scout on the Radley porch and she goes through season to season summarizing the main events that happened during each season. 3. How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus's as she stands on the Radley porch? Scout makes sense of what Atticus once told her that you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them because she has learnt and understands more about Boo now and standing on his porch makes her really feel like she has walked in his shoes. 4. How much of a surprise is it to find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader for this discovery?
5. At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of story. Does it have any connection with themes earlier in the novel and in its ending? The story that Atticus reads Scout is about people who are chasing a ghost. It has a connection to them trying to get Boo out of the house. When they finally see what he looks like he is very nice and he is not what everyone raves about.
Chapter 1
1. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family? That Maycomb is a little town and that Atticus Finch is either related to almost everyone in the town through blood or marriage. He lives with his two kids Scout and Jem and there maid/cook. His wife had died a few years ago.
2. What do you learn about Dill's character? That he is a very curious and adventurous little boy. He isn't scared of much and wants to see what Boo looks like.
3. What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley?
He got involved with a bad crowd and instead of getting sent away with the rest when the got arrested he was kept in his house. He then spent s little time in the local county basement when he stabbed his father. He is now a ghost in his own house.
4. Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?
It fascinates them because it's so forbidden.
5. What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel? The narrative voice is a little girl named Scout.
Chapter 2
1. Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school? Because she always watches the kids walk to school and is excited for it to finally be her. She is very eager to learn.
2. Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior typical of an older child? Because he doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of his friends and yes this is very typical of an older child.
3. What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities, which would make her good or not so good at her job? I think she has qualities that make her both a good and not good teacher. She would make a good teacher because of her new techniques of teaching, which are more hands on learning like we do today. She makes not so good of a teacher because she seems very inpatient and doesn't want any of the children to become too smart for their grade like Scout.
Chapter 3
1. Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household? She is the Finchs maid/cook but she is also the mother role model of the household and is treated like family and an equal.
2. What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life? He is very poor. His behavior during lunch when he covered everything in molasses and ate as fast as he could suggests that he doesn't get that much food at home and thinks he's going to take advantage of this and eat as much as he can because he doesn't know where his next meal is coming from.
3. What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter? Atticus treats Walter like he is a grown man and equal to him because his knowledge level is that of a grown man farmer.
4. Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think this is? Yes I think she learns that she can't keep judging people as harshly as she does because she doesn't know what their lives are like and needs to be more polite to guests.
5. Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? (In the last chapter of the novel, Scout repeats this, but she changes “skin” to “shoes” - this is probably not a mistake: Harper Lee suggests that Scout cannot clearly recall exactly what Atticus said and when, but the reader can check this!) It means that you can't judge someone until you've lived his or her life. I do think this is a hard thing for Scout to learn because she is still so young.
6. What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells? That they are the lowest people in the town and that they are allowed to do many things that are illegal to everyone else because Mr. Ewell is an alcoholic and drinks away all of the well fare money and they have to let him do things like hunt out of season so that the children can eat because they have no mother.
Chapter 4
1. What does Scout think of current fashions in education? She thinks that school is extremely pointless and if it's going to be this boring for the next 12 years she is not going to be taking part.
2. What superstitions do the children have in connection with the Radley house? Hot steams, which are dead spirits or ghost like things and if you walk through one you will be stuck between heaven and hell when you die.
3. Why do the children make Boo's story into a game? Because they think its fun.
4. What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radleys' home? They re and act Boo reading his magazine and then freaking out and stabbing his father. No part of them knows it's not very accurate they just use the gossip that they hear in the town.
5. What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? Boo Radley.
Chapter 5
1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson? How typical is she of Maycomb's women? What do the children think of her? Miss Maudie Atkinson is a widow hat loves to garden she seems a little bit off of the typical Maycomb women because she's being so friendly to the children. The children like her very much because she treats them almost as equals, makes them food all the time and spend time with Scout.
2. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes? She tells Scout about how much that whole house hold cares about making sure they have a good after life and go to heaven that they think she's going to hell because she spends too much time outside withe her flowers. That is why he stays inside all of the time.
3. Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones ” (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies? Because he wanted everyone to think highly of him and wanted them to think that he knew more then everyone else.
4. What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why? He says that it is disrespectful and that they don't know what really happens inside and that they sould never make fun of someone like that. Yes, I do agree with him.
Chapter 6
1. Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radleys' windows? Because Atticus told them to stop bothering him and she doesn't want to get into trouble. She also thinks that they will get killed.
2. What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired? He doesn't know who is was but if they come again he will shoot them this time.
3. Why does Dill's explanation of Jem's state of dress almost land him in trouble? Because poker is a sin and thats looked on as a very bad thing as well.
Chapter 7
1. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this? Jem tells Scout that when he went back to go get his breeches that instead of them being tangle and in a heap where he left them they were nicely folded all sewn up like they were waiting for them.
2. Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is? I think that Jem is beginning to understand that Boo radley isn't as bad and mean as everyone makes him out to be.
3. Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer. I don't think he so much as fears them just doesn't want to go into too much question about where there coming from.
4. When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so? When they go to leave the letter their prevented because someone had filled the hole with cement. Mr. Radley was the one who filled it. His reason was that the tree was dying and if you filled the holes up with cement it saved it, but when Jem asked Atticus if the tree was dying he said no and that the tree was as healthy as he was. I think the real reason was that he didn't want Boo making things for the kids because if he started liking them making them things might no be enough he may want to go and meet them and Mr. Radley wanted Boo to stay in the house away from the kids.
Chapter 8
1. Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her? Scout asks Atticus because she wants to know if Atticus had seen Boo to see if he was even still alive and if so what he looked like. All Atticus says to this is "No, i did not".
2. What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it? The "near libel" that Jem puts in the front yard is the snowman. Atticus is impressed but say that they need to put a disguise on it so it didn't resemble any of the neighbors. Miss Maudie jokingly yells at Jem to bring back her hat and clippers but she is also pleased by it.
3. Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair? He saves it because he knows that it is one of her most loved things.
4. When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize? He realizes that he has no idea how it got there either. He then realizes that it was Boo Radley and is a little upset that he didn't get to see him, if only he had turned around.
5. Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire ” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might now do as his father says? I think Jem is finally starting to realize that Boo deserves his respect as much as anyone else and is figuring out more and more about Boo and that he actually seems like and extremely caring person.
Chapter 9
1. How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time? Atticus feels that he should work hard to help Tom Robinson because Calpurnia says that she knows his family and that they are clean living folk and she goes to church with him. It was not usual for white lawyers to do their best for black clients at that time because African Americans were not considered equal at this time.
2. Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas? What are these feelings and why? They do not like spending time with their anoying cousin, Francis and Aunt Alexandra, but they like Uncle Jack and the Christmas tree. Uncle Jack is really funny and they say he is the best doctor because he'll make them laugh while they're in pain so they don't feel anything.
3. Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it? It means shes growing up and she is not who she used to be because she is cussing a lot more now and acts more like her father then her mother.
4. When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this? She doesn't understand girls much as she has never had one. She is also very rude to Scout on how she dresses, she says Scout should be wearing dresses and breeches not pants.
5. Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be? Years later Scout realizes that Atticus was letting her overhear their conversation because he wanted her to hear it. Scout learns from Uncle Jack and Atticus's conversation that she will have to endure some ugly things really soon and how Atticus knows Jem will be fine, but he doesn’t know how well Scout will handle it.
6. Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story. It means that this is Atticus's way of telling scout stuff without having to say it to her face. It is important to the story because Atticus will probably say something very serious and scout will be listening in on Atticus's conversation with someone.
Chapter 10
1. Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter? Yes, I think that this is her veiw of Atticus as she tells the story when she was younger. At the end of the chapter she does not still think this because Miss Maudie tells Scout about his old days when peopl called him "One Shot".
2. In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this? Because Mockingbirds sing very nice tunes, but they were aloud to shoot Bluebirds.
3. Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson? Becuase he says its a one shot job and he knows he cannot shoot that, but he knows Atticus can because he is very well skilled with guns.
4. Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem. What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from saying it? He did not want his children to know he is a very good shot and marksman.
5. Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?
Jem does not want to tell the kids at school because since Atticus did not want his own children to know Jem thinks it would be disrespectful. But Scout just wants to prove to the other kids that their dad can do something, because she gets made fun of because her dad is defending an African American. I agree with Jem, because if Atticus didnt tell them, then he probably didnt want them to know.
Chapter 11
1. How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts? Atticus tells Jem to ignore Mrs.Dubose and everything she says.He also says for Jem to hold his head up high and act like a gentleman.
2. What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children's mother? How does Jem feel about this? Mrs.Dubose told the children that their father should have re-married after her mothers death, Jem was not happy and was hurt that she even mentioned his mother.
3. What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”? Mrs.Dubose suggests that Jem re-plants the flowers he killed, and that he read to her almost everyday for an hour. I think that it is fair.
4. Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him? He does not think much of the insults, he agrees that he is because Atticus likes alot of people and to him it doesnt matter what skin colour you are.
5. Why, in Atticus's view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”? Atticus calls Mrs.Dubose "a great lady" because he thinks she has a lot of courage. At the end of the chapter we find out that Mrs.Dubose is addicted to painkillers and that she wanted to die free,without being addicted.
6. Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right? Atticus ment that because she was addicted to painkillers, it took her inner strength to quit , and the fact that she even wanted to quit was courageous. Atticus was trying to tell the children that she had more courage by wanting to quit, than any person with a gun could have.
7. Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here. I think that Harper Lee chose the end the first part of the book here because the first part was more of an introduction to the characters of the story. In the second half the story might go into more detail and the main plot will appear more clear.
Chapter 12
1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. At first Jem and Scout were kind of intimidated by a church member, but once things got going they liked it and thought it was a good experience.
2. What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live? Scout learns that they are more of a community and that one someone needs help, they help each other.
3. What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education? Scout learns that Calpurnia tought Zeebo to read, and that she taught him from a single book.
4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church. Calpurnia speaks differently because in the Finch house she is more proper because it is her job . At the church she preaks more like the others because she is used to talking that way around them and she just kind of caught on to the way they talk.
Chapter 13
1. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like? Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the family because since Atticus is away she feals the need to try and help out. When she see's how much of a "tomboy" Scout is she tries to lead her in the direction of a typical lady. She seems kind of pushy and bossy twords everyone.
2. Read the first two things Aunt Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch home: "Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia" and "Jean Louise, stop scratching your head". Are these typical of her or not? As you get to know Aunt Alexandra better it seams like something she would do.
3. Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are? She thinks that because Scout is more of a tomboy that she is not as smart as the other typical girls. I think that she is wrong becuse Scout is very smart and able to do things many kids her age can not.
4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life? Aunt Alexander gets involved by have company over and making friends with them.
5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think? Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be more of a girl and more social, Atticus tries to tell the children about Aunt Alexanda's oppinion but he dissagre's and tells them to forget it. I think that Atticus was right to not tell kids.
Chapter 14
1. Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout. Atticus eplains it in a very mature way, with big words and very vaugly but still so Scout can understand.
2. Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion? Alexandra think she should dismiss Calpurnia because now that she is there she dosnt feal like Calpurnia needs to be there , and that she is teaching them wrong. Atticus tells her that Calpurnia is part of the family, and that the children love her.
3. Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill? Scout is pleased when they fight because they still fight an even fight. It probably makes her feel better, and think that Jem might still be a kid to. When Jem tells Atticus about Dill, she gets upset and realizes that maybe Jem really is growing up.
4. What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away? We learn that Dills new family didnt pay attention to him very much and that after awhile he was chained up in the basement, and barley fed. He escaped and found his way back to Maycomb.
Chapter 15
1. What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children? For the first time, Scout and Jem witness the hatred of the mob and the horrors of racism, and see their Father in a vulnerable position.
2. What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment “The Ku Klux's gone. It'll never come back."
They are a group of people who are against colored people because they don’t think that they deserve to live. I think it is to help Tom Robinson to sleep better.
3. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why? Jem stays right where is was and doesnt leave, because he feels that Atticus is in danger.
4. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life? The fact that the children weren’t leaving and they didn’t wan to do what they had planned in front of the children.
5. Comment on the way Scout affects events without realizing it at the time. Talking about entailments to Walter Cunningham and everyone in the aggregation was looking at her with their mouths open. Scout made Walter stand in Atticus's shoes for a moment.
Chapter 16
1. What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?
Scout had figured out that there was a subtle change directed towards Aunt Alexandra. There was a fair starchiness in is voice when he said, "Anything fit to say at the table's fit to say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family." He get deffends Calpurnia and isn't afraid to be a little rude to Aunt Alexandra to get his point across.
2. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?
Dolphus Raymond is married to a black women and his children are all mixed chillun. He owns all of one side of the river bank.
3. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do?
Reverend Sykes brings them up to the colored balcony to see the trial. Yes I think he is right to. I think the children are all old enough to watch and it is a huge learning experience.
4. Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not?
Judge Taylor does not take his job completely seriously, he sometimes propped his feet up on his desk but he is always paying atention.
Chapter 17
1. What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his [[javascript: {alert(' Asking questions of a witness who has given evidence for the other side ')}|cross-examination]] of Sheriff Tate?
Atticus shows that Tate sted that most of her bruising was on the right side of her body which means it would have most likely been a left handed person that beat her and we later find out that Tom is unable to use his left arm.
2. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter?
There are 7 children, their relief check was far from enough to feed the family, and there was a strong suspicion that Mr. Ewell drank it up anyway. He sometimes went off in the swamp for days and came home sick, they made shoes out of strips of old tires when it was cold enough for shoes. The family hauled its buckets of water from a spring that ran out at one end of the dump. The younger children suffered from chronic ground-itch.
3. What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence?
We learn that Mr. Ewell was left handed and the black eye was on Mayella"s right eye, so Mr. Ewell could have beat her up, also we learned that Mr. Ewell does not know what the word ambidextrous means.
4. Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this?
Atticus has Mr. Bob Ewell write out his name to see what hand he uses, the jury sees that Mr. Ewell is left handed.
Chapter 18
1. Is Mayella like her father or different from him? In what ways?
I think they are different. I think Mayella is lying to everyone and trying to get blame Tom Robinson becasue she is scared of her father, but deep down its killing her to have to do it and I think her father is a drunk who beats his children and thinks he can get away with blaming it on Tom because of his color.
2. What might be the reason for Mayella's crying in the court?
I think Mayella is crying because she is just so overwhelmed with emotions. She knows what she is doing is bad but she is just so scared of her father she doesn't think she has any choice.
3. How does Mayella react to Atticus's politeness? Is she used to people being polite?
Mayella thinks that Atticus is making fun of her because she has never had people being polite to her shes just used to being treated like trash by her father.
4. How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in the eyes of the jury?
I dont think that Mr. Gilmer really proved that Tom was guilty he just played up the fact that Tom was black and when Tom said that he had felt sorry for Mayella that pretty much did it for everyone in the court house.
Chapter 19
1. What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place?
Tom visited the Ewell's house because Mayella had asked him to come inside to help her with something.
2. Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
Scout thinks that Mayella must be the loneliest person in the world because she spent a year saving money to send her brothers and sister out of the house just so she could spend a few hours with Tom.
3. In your own words explain Mayella's relationship with her father.
Mayellas relationship with her father would be a terrible one. She stays away from him as much as she can and, she says that he is tolerable, except when he is drinking.
4. How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion?
Dill starts to cry when he hears Mr. Gilmer talking to Tom Robinson so rudely. Because it isn't right for anyone to treat a person badly because of their skin colour.
Chapter 20
1. Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right?
No she isn't right because Dolphus Raymond is not an evil man, he is a good guy, but it is just everyone says he is bad because he always has alcohol in his hand and because he is married to a black women. 2. In most states of the USA people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
Raymond hides Coca-Cola in a bag but pretends that it is alcohol because he feels like he needs something to blame for the way he acts.
3. What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong? Explain, in your own words, Atticus's views on people's being equal. Mayella has kissed a full grown coloured man, and that is considered an offence. Atticus finds in unfair that it is an offence for a white women and a black man together but it is only looked on poorly but nothing is ever done when a black women and a white man are together.
Chapter 21
1. What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Jem expects the verdict to be innocent and Atticus thinks that it should be innocent as well but knows the people of Maycomb better then Jem does and knows that their not going to be able to get past the color of his skin and that it is going to be guilty.
2. What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not? Because they were actually thinking about giving Tom Robinson a chance. I found the verdict quite predictable.
3. As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these and how do they remind us of the novel's central themes? Scout remembers how Atticus shot the sick dog, it made her think that Atticus is aiming with an empty gun. It meens that she knew he wasnt going to win, but he still tried his best.
Chapter 22
1. Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem's right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's reasons for this. (Look at the speech beginning, “This is their home, sister”.)
"We've made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it... It's just as much Maycomb County as missionary teas." Atticus says this because Jem is growing up and has a right to learn and know about how Maycomb life really is.
2. Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
Miss Maudie tells Jem this, saying that Atticus did a job no one else could have, and has actually changed many peoples' minds. Atticus wasn't able to save Tom Robinson but he has started to make people start thinking and hopefully start the change with racism and social classes.
3. Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he would keep this ambition for long?
Because he likes to laugh at people, but them Jem tells him that it is usually the crowd who is laughing at the clown. No i dont think he'll keep this ambition because he likes to change his mind and tell stories all the time.
4. This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained the same (in the USA and the UK) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view?
Yes, attitudes to racism have changed for the better forsure. People of all colours are looked at as equals.
5. Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a real one, and how might he try to “get” Atticus? Because Atticus actually put up a fight in the court room and is really trying his best to win this case not just put in a half ass job like most other lawyers would have. I think his threat might be a real one but I dont think that he will try to kill Atticus, but possibly get back at him in an other way.
Chapter 23
1. What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated or done something else?
I feel that Atticus reacted perfectly because all Bob Ewell was trying to do was get a reaction out of him and get him mad.
2. What is “circumstantial evidence”? What has it got to do with Tom's conviction?
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that is based only if another circumstance is correct, usually which isn't enough or valid proof. Tom's conviction was based on Heck Tate's circumstantial proof, which was based on what Bob Ewell said.
3. What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
Atticus tells Scout that because they look so long it meant that not everyone in the jury was against Tom and people were really starting to think for themselves and look at the facts not just the color of their skin.
4. Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Are class-divisions good or bad for societies?
No I deffinitly do not think class divisions are good for society and I do not think people should just mix with other people in the same social class. All social classes do is make people feel bad about themselves and let the rich show off their uneccessary wealth.
5. At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your opinion?
Jems new theory for why Boo hasn't left his house in so long is because he doesn't want to deal with the people of Maycomb and how mean and judging they are. I think this is very likely because when Boo does finally come out he seems like a very nice young man but also ver very shy and doesn't like to deal with people.
Chapter 24
1. Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa)? Give reasons for your answer. I do not think that they are being sincere when they talk about the Mrunas, they just have nothing else to talk about.
2. Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says she is wearing her “britches” under her dress.
Everyone in the room laughed AT Scout when she says shes wearing her britches under her dress. All the ladies laugh exept Miss Maudie because she knows Scout isn't trying to be funny and probably feels a little bad for her.
3. What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter?
I think that the ladies of Maycomb this way to highly of themselves. All they do is jude and gossip about other people.
4. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted escape. Do you think agree with Atticus?How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her?
Tom om had gotten shot down by the police when he tried to escape from jail. Atticus's explanation was that he didn't care about the white men anymore. Aunt Alexander seems different because she's actually taking a liking to Tom and is sad when she hears that she has died.
Chapter 25
1. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death?
Maycomb is very curious about Toms death. With in a few days the whole town knows about it.
2. Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”?
The town thinks that is typical for a black person mentally have no plan and that it is typical for a black personto "cut and run".
3. Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men's hearts”. In what way are hearts like courts?
Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's ("One down and about two more to go")? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do?
Scout wonders why everyone knew that Tom was telling the truth but didn't defend his side. The heart can relate to courts because the hearts feelings can change just like the courts. Scout doesn't want to tell Atticus about the comment because she feels that it will affect Atticus and make him furious. I don't think it was a wise thing to do because she shouldn't keep anything like that from her dad.
Chapter 26
1. In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don't believe in persecuting anyone”. What seems odd to the reader about this claim? It is odd because the (American people) seem to persecute lots of people especially black people just because their skin.
2. Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates' disapproval of Hitler?
Scout is confused why his teacher hates Hitler so much. She is bugged about how come people have to persecute people and have mean thoughts even though you don't know them
3. Why does Scout's question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question (“How can you hate Hitler an’ then turn around an be ugly about folks right at home?"
Jem was so upset because he didn't want Scout to mention the courthouse again. And he didn't answer her question. I think it would be a very complicated to answer that question because it is so profound and meaningful.
Chapter 27
1. What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra?
The first thing was that Bob acquired and lost his job in a matter of days. The second thing was that Judge Taylor heard Bob raiding around his house. The third thing was that Bob would follow Helen everywhere and "chuckle" behind her back.
2. Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his enemies, and why?
Bob Ewell bears a grudge on Link Deas because he hired Helen, Tom's wife to work for him. Link's plan was for him to protect Helen from Bob treating her disrespectfully.
3. What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown ups to have an organized event?
The point in having the Halloween pageant was to show the different agricultural products of Maycomb. The practical joke that happens the year before was that the kids snuck into Tutti and Frutti's house and moved all their furniture into their cellar.
Chapter 28
1. Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel.
At the starting of this chapter they think back to the items that were left in the tree for them and start talking about Boo Radley again.
2. Why does Jem say that Boo Radley must not be at home? What is ironic about this? (Is it true? Does he really mean it? Why might it be important for him and Scout that Boo should not be at home?)
Jem says that Boo Radley isn't home because he didn't hear anything coming from the house. This is ironic because i think they were right he wasn't at home he was out watching and about to save them.
3. Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way?
This affects her understanding because with the costume on she can't hear or see very well.
4. Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner?
Because Atticus knows people very well and knows that working men like the man in the corner feel more comportable standing in a corner out of the way.
Chapter 29
1. What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume?
Bob Ewell tried to stab Scout but because her costume was so thick the shiny clean line was the line the knife made.
2. What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell's attack?
Atticus says that he is a coward and doesn't have the guts to go after Atticus himself so he went after his children who are an easier target.
3. What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?
Tate thinks that Mr. Ewell was the kind of man you would shoot before you say "hidy" to them but they aren't even worth the shot.
4. Do you think the sheriff's explanation or Atticus's is the more likely to be true?
I think that the Sheriff's explanation is more likely cause i can't see Jem, defending Scout or not, being a ble to stab a full grown man.
Chapter 30
1. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death?
Atticus thinks that Jem was the one who stabbed Bob.
2. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?
Because where he was stabbed it would make sense that he fell back onto his knife. Its only partly tue cause someone could have easily come behind him a stabbed him as well.
3. Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo the publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer.
Yes i think he is right to spare Boo of that. Boo saved the children's lives why would they go and do the one thing that would probably kill him in the end.
4. How does the writer handle the appearance, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley?
The writer tells us why Boo is so pale. He shows us that Boo looks and speaks like a normal person. Scout also realizes that he's not scary and is actually really nice.
Chapter 31
1. How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?
In the beginning of the novel it tells us how Jem broke his elbow when he was thirteen and in the last chapter it shows us how his
arm was broken.
2. Comment on the way the writer summarizes earlier events to show their significance.
At the end of the book the writer puts Scout on the Radley porch and she goes through season to season summarizing the main events that happened during each season.
3. How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus's as she stands on the Radley porch?
Scout makes sense of what Atticus once told her that you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them because she has learnt and understands more about Boo now and standing on his porch makes her really feel like she has walked in his shoes.
4. How much of a surprise is it to find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader for this discovery?
5. At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of story. Does it have any connection with themes earlier in the novel and in its ending?
The story that Atticus reads Scout is about people who are chasing a ghost. It has a connection to them trying to get Boo out of the house. When they finally see what he looks like he is very nice and he is not what everyone raves about.